Best Study Abroad Packing List (With Free Checklist)

Before Arrival: What to Prepare Before Studying Abroad

There are certain things you need to take care of before you go studying abroad. You need to make sure you have all the necessary documents: payment certificates, language certificates, etc.

There are some applications that are optional (for example, the Buddy program for Erasmus students), but others are compulsory for any student.

Here is a list of to-dos you need to take care of before arrival:

• Insurance: You will need medical, travel, and public liability insurance
• Residency: Some colleges will take care of this for you, or they will provide the chance to stay in college dormitories. Others won’t. Make sure you check whether you need to find a place to stay.
• Traveling: check flight prices early; the longer you wait, the pricier they will be.
• Learning Agreement: The Learning Agreement is essential for doing your studies in the destination college. Make sure you’ll take enough credits.
• Credit cards: Some banks don’t have branches throughout Europe. Ask your bank for information about  international services. You may need to open an account at an international bank (this is what happened to me).

Study Abroad Packing System (3 Easy Steps)

I’ll be studying abroad for the next 6 months, and I have already prepared all my luggage.

Preparing your belongings and packing them is hard and frustrating. However, it doesn’t have to be that bad.

By following my 3-step packing system, you will easily remember all your possessions without having a headache.

Step 1: Create Your Packing Checklist

Checklists are essential for packing. They allow you to review whether you have taken everything. Thanks to your packing lists, you will identify the things you have already packed, the possessions that are ready, and the belongings you have forgotten.

I like to make my packing list in categories. This way, it’s easier for me to organize my packing days (because no, you won’t be able to pack your life for 6 months in just one day).

These are the categories I use on my checklist:

1. Clothes
2. Shoes
3. Electronics
4. Medicine
5. Toilet kit
6. College material
7. Important documents
8. Miscellaneous

Try to make a specific list. Write down the exact things you will be packing. For example, instead of writing 3 tank tops, choose which tops you will be taking: white tank top, gray tank top, and blue tank top. This will make your packing a lot faster.

PRO TIP 1: Once you finish your packing list, decide which luggage each item will go in. You can choose a color for each piece of luggage, and color each item. This will allow you to pack your luggage, instead of by category. Trust me, your room will be less messy this way.

PRO TIP 2: You can use my checklist below, or opt for my Study Abroad Notion Template for College Students. This template is FREE, and it will become your best friend during your Erasmus days.

Step 2: Get All Your Belongings Ready

Instead of getting all the packing items one at a time, first get everything ready. Lay out all the things that will go in your luggage. Identify the biggest objects, as well as the fragile ones. The biggest and heaviest things should go at the bottom.

Apart from that, by getting all your belongings ready first, you will make sure everything fits in the luggage.

Step 3: Pack Your Luggage Efficiently

Once you have everything on your packing list for studying abroad ready, it’s time to fill your luggage.

This step will be fast and easy, since you won’t have to ensure you have everything. You will have already checked that through the previous steps.

Your only task will be to pack everything into your luggage, ensuring that it doesn’t exceed the maximum weight.

My Study Abroad Packing List (Free Checklist)

Let’s get to the chase, what do you need to pack for study abroad? Here is my study abroad checklist.

This study abroad packing list is designed for college students studying abroad for 6–12 months, including Erasmus programs. You can use this as a starting point and create your own using my template.

Study abroad packing shouldn’t be stressful; make it easier with my system.

I hope everybody has a great experience studying abroad.

Have you studied abroad, or are you planning to go soon? Tell me where you’re going. I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

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